ENGLEWOOD, Colo.—The Denver Broncos waived seven players Monday, including special teams regulars Steve Cargile and Paul Smith, to make room for seven undrafted free agent rookies, including a kicker and a punter.
Also waived were defensive tackle Michael Bozeman, guard Mark Fenton, fullback Steven Jackson, linebacker William Kershaw and running back Marquis Weeks.
Among the undrafted free agents the Broncos signed is University of Oklahoma kicker Garrett Hartley, who will compete with Matt Prater for the job that opened up when Jason Elam signed with Atlanta after a 15-year career in Denver.
Hartley is beefy for a kicker, packing 204 pounds on his 5-foot-8 frame. Hartley connected on 32-of-35 field goals his final two seasons in college.
The Broncos also signed punter Brett Kern of Toledo, who will compete with Sam Paulsecu and Danny Baugher for the job held down most of last year by Todd Sauerbrun until he was jettisoned in December after an altercation with a taxi driver.
Kern ranked second in the nation in gross punting average (46.1) and was a third-team All-America choice last season.
The Broncos also signed:
—RB Anthony Alridge, who rushed for 2,595 yards and had a 7.1-yard average at the University of Houston, where he ran for 1,597 yards and 14 TDs along with making 42 catches for 428 yards and 5 TDs his senior season.
—OL Mitch Erickson, who never missed a game in his four seasons at South Dakota State, where he was an All-American his senior year.
—OT Tyler Polumbus, who started 38 games at left tackle for the University of Colorado after starring at Cherry Creek High School. He allowed just one sack as a senior and was named second-team All-Big 12.
—WR Lorne Sam, who played his final two seasons at UTEP after transferring from Florida State. In El Paso, he played quarterback and running back. He was born in Denver but played high school ball in Georgia.
—LB Wesley Woodyard, a first-team All-SEC player his final two seasons at the University of Kentucky, where he made 42 starts. He led the SEC with 10.6 tackles per game as a senior.
